At the annual Port Chester-Rye NAACP luncheon, held this year on October 22 at the Port Chester Senior Center, Alison Cupp Relyea of the Rye Historical Society and Kikki Short of the Port Chester Historical Society were singled out for their trailblazing efforts in the continuing “Fight for Freedom.” The campaign was begun by the NAACP 70 years ago with the goal of abolishing segregation and discrimination by 1963, the centennial of Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. The NAACP vowed to raise one million dollars annually through 1963 to fund the campaign.

The Freedom Fund event is a longstanding tradition that brings together NAACP members and community supporters to help raise funds for local branches to continue the fight for freedom for all when their civil rights have been abused. It gives the branches the opportunity to recognize and honor individuals within their community who are changemakers and trailblazers.